Spanish Authorities Apprehend Two Algerian Human Smugglers in Ibiza Crackdown

Saturday 10 February 2024 - 12:10

In a decisive move against illegal immigration, Spanish authorities have apprehended two Algerian nationals involved in human trafficking on the picturesque island of Ibiza.

Last Friday, the Spanish national police made the arrests, charging the pair with violating the rights of foreign citizens and engaging in illicit immigration. The accused are believed to have operated a vessel carrying migrants that successfully reached the shores of Ibiza and Formentera.

The dramatic journey involved 19 migrants, including the two detainees, who embarked from Bou Ismaïl, Algeria, each paying a hefty sum of 8,000 euros for transportation to Spain.

However, the perilous voyage quickly turned treacherous as the overloaded boat struggled to accommodate its passengers. Before reaching Ibiza, 10 migrants were forced to abandon ship off Formentera to evade detection by authorities. Despite the setbacks, the remaining migrants persisted until they made landfall at Las Salinas beach on Ibiza.

Spanish police described the vessel as dangerously ill-equipped, lacking essential safety gear such as life jackets, flares, and provisions.

This incident sheds light on the alarming rise in migrant smuggling operations from Algeria to Spain, a highly lucrative criminal enterprise reportedly generating millions of euros, as per local media reports.

The surge in irregular migration from Algeria has prompted growing concerns among political leaders and parties in the Balearic Islands and other autonomous communities.

Chief Prosecutor Julio Cano of the Balearic Islands has recently prioritized combating organized crime networks involved in trafficking people from Algeria, recognizing it as a pressing issue for the archipelago.

According to Spanish authorities, Algerians constitute a significant portion, accounting for 73% of undocumented migrants reaching Spanish shores.